Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's programmes in reducing the global incidence of HIV/AIDS; what plans he has for the future of such programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen O'Brien: Figures from the UNAIDS Report on The Global Aids Epidemic 2010 demonstrate steady progress in the reduction of HIV incidence. In 33 countries, of which 22 are in Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV incidence has fallen by more than 25% between 2001 and 2009. In the countries most severely effected by the epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa-Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe-incidence have either stabilised or are showing signs of decline. These are all countries where the Department for International Development (DFID) has supported national HIV prevention programmes.
	DFID is reviewing all its bilateral and multilateral aid programmes to ensure UK aid is effective, represents value for money for the UK taxpayer and accelerate progress towards the millennium development goals. As set out in DFID's business plan 2011-15, we will specify our objectives on restricting the spread of diseases like TB, HIV, and malaria by May 2011.

Trade Unions: Finance

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department has given to trade unions in the UK and overseas through  (a) the Civil Society Challenge Fund,  (b) the UK Trades Union Congress Strategic Grant Agreement,  (c) the Strategic Framework Partnership Agreement,  (d) the partnership programme agreements,  (e) the Development Awareness Fund and  (f) other programmes in each of the last three years; which trade unions received such funds; and for what reason the award was made in each case.

Andrew Mitchell: I will arrange for the requested information to be placed in the Library of the House.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is reviewing all of its aid programmes including aid channelled through trade unions, to ensure that it makes a real difference to the world's poorest people.

Salmon: Rivers

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of salmon returning to the river  (a) Test,  (b) Itchen and  (c) Hampshire Avon in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the future capacity of the river  (a) Test,  (b) Itchen and  (c) Hampshire Avon to support viable stocks of migratory salmonoids; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency (EA) operates fish counters on the Rivers Test, Itchen and Hampshire Avon and uses these to derive annual estimates of the number of salmon returning to each of these rivers. The following table shows the estimated number of salmon returning in each of the past five years, although such estimates have only been possible on the Hampshire Avon since 2006.
	
		
			   Test  Itchen  Hampshire Avon 
			 2005 1,117 411 n/a 
			 2006 1,058 419 1,319 
			 2007 664 301 1,135 
			 2008 1,487 500 810 
			 2009 (provisional) 903 276 743 
		
	
	The EA estimates the Conservation Limits (CLs) for salmon stocks in each of the 64 principal salmon rivers in England and Wales; including the Test, Itchen and Hampshire Avon. CLs are described as 'the minimum desirable spawning stock levels, below which stocks should not be allowed to fall'. The salmon stocks in the Rivers Test, Itchen and Hampshire Avon were all below their CLs in 2009, and are classified as being 'At Risk' or 'Probably at Risk'. They are also expected to remain in one of these categories until at least 2014. There are no similar indicators of the status of other salmonid species.
	Stocks may still be sustainable at levels below their CL, but they are at greater risk. The EA and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science are investigating the significance of impacts on salmon and will seek ways to manage the effects. An understanding of these key factors will be important in estimating the future potential of these southern chalk streams for all salmonid species.

Woodland Grants Scheme

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the future of the Woodland Grants Scheme following the outcome of the comprehensive spending review; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Expenditure on the Rural Development programme for England will be maintained over the spending review period. We will work with the Forestry Commission to ensure the England Woodland Grant Scheme, which provides for the stewardship of existing woodlands and the creation of new woodlands, is more effective and better targeted. I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the Welsh Assembly Government which administers woodland grant schemes in Wales for information on its plans.

Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made on inclusion of a proportion of electricity generated from energy from waste in the Carbon Reduction Commitment.

Gregory Barker: All electricity supply arrangements to a CRC participant which meet the CRC's supply criteria must be reported under the scheme, irrespective of how, where and by whom the electricity is generated. This ensures the scheme's focus is on energy efficiency measures.
	CRC participants which operate an energy from waste plant will also need to report their input fuel to the generational process, where that waste supply meets the CRC supply definitions.

Aviation: Security

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who informed  (a) her and  (b) the Prime Minister of the discovery of a bomb on board a UPS courier aircraft at East Midlands airport; and what the reasons were for the time taken to inform each Minister of that discovery.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply.
	The Secretary of State for Transport, the right hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) informed about an incident at East Midlands airport at 8.10 am on 29 October. In his capacity as Secretary of State for Transport he is routinely informed of incidents having the potential to disrupt air transport, even when no specific threat materialises. The Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) and the Minister of State for Security and Counter-terrorism (Baroness Neville-Jones) were all informed at lunchtime on 29 October.

Parking: Fines

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities  (a) responsible for London boroughs and  (b) outside London have contacted his Department to seek an increase in charges for parking penalties.

Norman Baker: holding answer 29 November 2010
	 Penalty charges in London are the responsibility of the London Mayor. The British Parking Association has raised this matter with Ministers of behalf of their local authority members. In addition six local authorities have written to the Department for Transport.

Defence Exports Group

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Defence Exports Group was established; what its terms of reference are; who its members are; how many times it will meet per year; and when it will next meet.

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to establish the Defence Export Group; and whether a decision has been made on its composition.

Liam Fox: The Defence Exports Support Group (DESG) was established on 22 October. The core DESG membership is the Secretary of State for Defence; the Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology; the Minister for International Security Strategy; and Head, Defence and Security Organisation, UK Trade and Investment. Ministers and/or senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will also attend as appropriate. The DESG will be a forum through which Ministers will plan and focus their support to UK Defence exports. The intention is to hold the first DESG meeting before Christmas at which its terms of reference and frequency of meetings will be discussed.

Nimrod Aircraft

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of making alternative arrangements for  (a) protection of the carrier fleet and  (b) provision of strategic deterrent against submarines compared to the cost of retaining the Nimrod MRA4; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the consequences for  (a) intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance support,  (b) maritime protection and  (c) search and rescue capability in respect of (i) protection of merchant shipping and (ii) protection of coastal waters following the decision to cease the use of Nimrod MRA4 aircraft; what estimate he has made of changes to the cost to the public purse in the provision of such services as a result; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the cost to his Department of C130 and C130K aircraft as a replacement for the Nimrod MRA4 for  (a) intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance,  (b) maritime protection and  (c) search and rescue; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 450-51W, to the right hon. Member for Coventry North East (Mr Ainsworth) and the hon. Members for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow (Mr McCann), and North Durham (Mr Jones).
	The UK's requirement for Anti-Submarine Warfare and Intelligence surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability was assessed during the Strategic Defence and Security Review and will be kept under regular review. I can confirm that we have judged the implications of the decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service to be acceptable. We are in the process of developing a longer-term plan to mitigate the impact of cancellation on our continuing military tasks and capabilities. This will include an assessment of costs.

Rescue Services

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the concept of operations underpinning the search and rescue (helicopter) requirement included the assumption that a search and rescue helicopter fleet would operate in conjunction with Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft.

Liam Fox: The Search and Rescue Helicopter project includes the requirement that the helicopters would be able to interface with any other assets that might also be involved in dealing with an incident.

USA: Nuclear Weapons

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to his plans to co-operate on nuclear warhead testing with France, whether the UK will continue to  (a) participate in or  (b) receive the results of US sub-critical nuclear tests undertaken at the Nevada nuclear test site.

Liam Fox: The recently signed treaty with France on proposed nuclear co-operation does not address "nuclear warhead testing" but delivers hydrodynamic experiments that provide a key element of assurance for the safety and reliability of the UK's nuclear stockpile.
	I am satisfied that the treaty is complimentary to our nuclear co-operation with the US under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement and the nuclear exchanges made possible through that agreement.

Smartphone Applications

Priti Patel: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology Office has made of the cost of developing a mobile smartphone application for Parliament; what the cost will be holding focus group meetings on 30 November 2010 and 1 December 2010; and when the smartphone application is due to be available.

John Thurso: The development of a new mobile application, designed primarily for those visiting Parliament, is being led from within the Department of Information Services. The procurement for the smartphone mobile application is currently running, and to publish the budget might influence the responses from potential suppliers.
	Only one focus group is now being run, on 30 November. The focus group planned for 1 December is not going ahead. The participants are coming in on a voluntary basis and are not being paid. The cost of holding the focus groups will depend on the number of participants, and will be restricted to the provision of refreshments and any claims for reasonable travel costs. Refreshments are expected to cost £17.50, and a maximum of £20 per person is being set for travel claims. At present, seven people have registered an interest.
	It is expected that the smartphone application will be available from April 2011.

Departmental Written Questions

Paul Beresford: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many and what proportion of questions tabled to the Public Accounts Commission for ordinary written answer  (a) in Session 2009-10 and  (b) since May 2010 were answered within (i) seven days and (ii) 14 days of tabling; how many such questions tabled between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 remained unanswered by 18 November 2010; and what estimate he has made of the average cost the Commission of answering a question for ordinary written answer within seven days of tabling in the latest period for which figures are available.

Andrew Tyrie: In Session 2009-10, there were two questions tabled to the Public Accounts Commission for ordinary written answer, of which both were answered within seven days. Between May 2010 and 12 November 2010 there were no questions tabled for ordinary written answer.
	The Public Accounts Commission has not made an estimate of the average cost of answering an ordinary written question within seven days of tabling, but it is noted that HM Treasury has established the cost of a written PQ as £154.00. See paragraph 7.27 at the following link:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide/chapter7.aspx

European Union

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers have been ceded to the EU and in what areas of policy jurisdiction has been ceded since 10 May 2010 and in each case specifying whether such cession was by  (a) EU legislative instrument,  (b) judicial decision,  (c) operation of a passerelle provision,  (d) the ending of an opt-out,  (e) an agreement to opt-in,  (f) treaty amendment and  (g) other means.

David Lidington: All of the legislative measures that have been adopted since 10 May 2010 have been based on the existing powers and competences conferred on the EU under the existing EU treaties, which have been approved by Parliament. None of the passerelles under the existing EU treaties have been exercised since 10 May 2010. There have been no treaty amendments. We are not aware of any judicial decisions which have resulted in a transfer of competence or power from the UK to the EU. The whole of Title V is an area of shared competence. This position is not altered by the exercise of a UK opt-in.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to fund the development of Local Enterprise Partnerships; by what mechanisms such partnerships will he be able to bid for funds from his Department to fulfil their duties; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: No central Government spending has been allocated specifically to fund the activities of local enterprise partnerships. As set out in the White Paper on Local Growth local enterprise partnerships will be expected to fund their own day-to-day running costs and will also want to consider how they can obtain the best value for public money by leveraging in private sector investment. The mechanisms for how local enterprise partnerships may bid for centrally available funds, such as the regional growth fund, will be specific to the fund itself. Details regarding how to access the regional growth fund can be found on the Department's website at the following address:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/regional-economic-development/regional-growth-fund

EU Law

Priti Patel: To ask the Attorney-General how many EU directives are pending transposition into domestic legislation by the Law Officers' Departments; and what estimate he has made of the cost of each such transposition.

Dominic Grieve: The information is as follows:
	1. None
	2. None.

Broadband

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost to the economy of the introduction of high-speed broadband services across the UK by 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 30 November 2010
	Overall, we believe there will be a net benefit to the economy from introduction of superfast broadband. The Government have made no recent estimate of the costs of deploying superfast broadband. The Broadband Stakeholder Group recently published a complementary report on the costs of fixed wireless and satellite broadband.
	The Government have committed £530 million to facilitate the delivery of universal broadband and stimulate private sector investment to deliver the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015

Copyright: Recordings

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the likely effect on the British music industry of the expiry of 50 years copyright on recordings in the next 10 years.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 18 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 889-890W. There are no plans to undertake the work described.

Departmental Sponsorship

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what expenditure  (a) his Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies incurred on sponsorship in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

John Penrose: The Department does not provide corporate sponsorship or branding for events but it does encourage sponsorship of its sectors from the world of business.
	Data on expenditure incurred by non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally. Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of each non-departmental public body to respond to the hon. Member for Witham directly. A copy of the responses will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Banks: Loans

Nick Brown: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2010,  Official Report, column 894W, on banks: loans, if he will undertake an assessment of trends in the criteria for setting personal guarantees for loans over the last 10 years.

Mark Hoban: In response to the Government's Green Paper on business finance, the British Bankers; Association (BBA) published the outcomes of their Business Finance Taskforce, which was written in conjunction with the six major UK banks.
	As part of these commitments, the banks have agreed to fund and establish an independent business survey. This survey will provide more information of the experience of small businesses in applying for finance.

Employers' Liability: Asbestos

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for a requirement for employers to insure themselves against potential harm caused to employees by asbestosis.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	The Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 requires employers carrying on business in Great Britain to insure their liability to their employees for bodily injury or disease sustained in the course of their employment. This Act ensures that those with asbestos-related diseases can claim compensation against their Employers' Liability insurance, where the employer has been negligent in exposing them to asbestos while at work.
	However, a recent Court of Appeal case has considered how the wording of these Employers' Liability insurance policies affects civil compensation for mesothelioma sufferers and we had hoped that the judgment would have provided a general principle on how these policies should deal with their mesothelioma claims. The court decided that the policies should be interpreted based on the actual policy wording, which means that some sufferers may not be able to claim compensation if the insurance policy was worded in such a way that prevents a claim from being made. We expect this judgment to be appealed to the Supreme Court.
	In February 2010 the previous Government published their consultation document, Accessing Compensation-Supporting people who need to trace employers' liability insurance, which set out proposals for people who need to find their Employers' Liability insurance policies in order to claim compensation. The consultation closed on 5 May 2010. There were two proposals; firstly an Employers' Liability Tracing Office, that would manage a database of EL policies. Secondly, an Employers' Liability Insurance Bureau which would be a compensation fund of last resort for those individuals who are unable to trace EL insurance records, ensuring they are able to receive compensation for injuries or diseases sustained during the course of their employment. We are in active discussions with all stakeholders on how this situation can be addressed and we will publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Mortgages

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has assessed the effect of the mortgage market proposals made by the Financial Services Authority on small businesses with a turnover under £1 million;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on house prices of the mortgage market proposals made by the Financial Services Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to a healthy housing and mortgage market.
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is conducting a wholesale review of mortgage regulation in the UK, the 'Mortgage Market Review'.
	The Government believe that it is right for the FSA to ensure that the UK mortgage market has responsible lending practices. We will continue to work with the FSA, mortgage lenders and intermediaries, and consumer groups to ensure a mortgage market that is sustainable for all participants.
	The FSA published 'Mortgage Market Review: Responsible Lending' in July which sets out the detail of some of the proposed changes. This paper forms one part of an ongoing consultation process.
	The FSA has stated that they will fully assess the potential impact on the market before implementing any rule changes. Further, the FSA will consult in 2011 on transitional measures to help mitigate any adverse effects on existing borrowers.

Mortgages

Robert Syms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has assessed the effect of the mortgage market proposals made by the Financial Services Authority on small businesses with a turnover under £1 million;
	(2)  whether he has assessed the effect of the Financial Services Authority's mortgage market review proposals on the  (a) availability of mortgages and  (b) operation of the housing market; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he has discussed with the Council of Mortgage Lenders the proposals on responsible lending made by the Financial Services Authority and their likely effect on the housing market;
	(4)  if he will take steps to ensure that the implementation of the Financial Services Authority's mortgage market review proposals does not have a negative effect on home-buyers and the housing market;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the number of borrowers who may not be able to take out remortgages following the introduction of the Financial Services Authority's proposals for the mortgage market; and if he will bring forward measures to assist such borrowers;
	(6)  what estimate he has made of the number of mortgages granted since 2005 which would not have been issued under the Financial Services Authority's proposals for the mortgage market;
	(7)  if he will take steps to ensure that  (a) self-employed and  (b) other homebuyers with variable incomes will be able to obtain mortgages under the Financial Services Authority's proposals for the mortgage market;
	(8)  what assessment he has made of the likely effects of implementation of the Financial Services Authority's proposals on availability of mortgage finance on home-ownership in the UK.

Mark Hoban: The Government are committed to a healthy housing and mortgage market.
	The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is conducting a wholesale review of mortgage regulation in the UK, the 'Mortgage Market Review'.
	The Government believe that it is right for the FSA to ensure that the UK mortgage market has responsible lending practices. We will continue to work with the FSA, mortgage lenders and intermediaries, and consumer groups to ensure a mortgage market that is sustainable for all participants.
	The FSA published 'Mortgage Market Review: Responsible Lending in July', which sets out the details of some of the proposed changes. This paper forms one part of an ongoing consultation process.
	The FSA has stated that they will fully assess the potential impact on the market before implementing any rule changes. Further, the FSA will consult in 2011 on transitional measures to help mitigate any adverse effects on existing borrowers.
	Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Revenue and Customs: Marketing

Priti Patel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 November 2010,  Official Report, column 274W, on incentives, from which of its budgets HM Revenue and Customs funds expenditure on promotional material; and how much has been spent from each such budget in each of the last three years.

David Gauke: In HMRC, promotional items may be printed paper, office supplies or non paper items. These items will have been purchased via a range of budgets including commodities such as print, paper/stationery. From these budgets promotional materials are not identifiable from other items and cannot be disaggregated except at disproportionate cost. No central record is held of the spend on promotional materials and is not available except at disproportionate cost.

Housing: Construction

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of new houses which would need to be built in Southampton unitary authority area in each of the next five years in order for the authority to establish a net income gain under the terms of the New Homes bonus scheme.

Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus will start in April 2011 and will match fund the additional council tax raised for new homes and properties brought back into use for the following six years, with an additional amount for affordable homes.
	The Department has set aside almost £l billion over the comprehensive spending review period for the scheme, including nearly £200 million in 2011-12 in year one. Funding beyond these levels will come from formula grant.
	The New Homes Bonus consultation is available at;
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/newhomesbonus
	This is accompanied by a calculator which will enable you to estimate grant from the New Homes Bonus for Southampton. This can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/1767709.xls
	We will announce our proposals for the local government finance settlement for 2011-12, in the usual manner, in due course.

Housing: Costs

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the average  (a) cost of management charges,  (b) cost of maintenance and  (c) return on capital expenditure in respect of the housing stock in each sector in each region.

Andrew Stunell: The following table provides estimates of the average annual routine and planned maintenance costs per unit for social landlords, based on data provided to the Tenant Services Authority. Cost figures are derived from published financial statements, include only landlords managing more than 1,000 social homes and use end of year stock numbers to produce average costs. This information is not available on a regional basis.
	
		
			  £'s per unit 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Routine maintenance costs 606 614 630 685 
			 Planned maintenance costs 258 264 271 302 
			 Management costs 731 779 844 893 
		
	
	There is no suitable measure with which to calculate the return on capital invested for this sector. This is because most social landlords are non-profit making organisations and the valuation of assets across the sector at both historic cost and current value prevents a valid aggregation of such measures.
	The following table gives data on local authority expenditure on supervision and management and repairs, for council housing in 2007-08 and 2008-09 by region. This is taken from local authorities' annual second advance housing revenue account subsidy claim forms submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government. The regional split in the table is derived from the 'Live tables on housing finance and household expenditure, Table 652' available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housingfinance/livetables/
	
		
			  Average per dwelling (£) 
			   2007-08  2008-09 
			   Supervision and  m anagement:   Supervision and  m anagement:  
			   General  Special  Repairs  General  Special  Repairs 
			 North East 624 364 753 653 401 790 
			 North West 878 512 918 677 403 979 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 756 188 795 769 200 811 
			 East Midlands 601 238 850 637 243 889 
			 West Midlands 689 298 1,067 651 267 953 
			 East 701 387 924 681 393 893 
			 London 1,536 606 1,185 1,591 606 1,259 
			 South East 859 414 1,032 719 363 933 
			 South West 654 277 814 750 294 821 
			 National Average 858 367 902 902 380 974 
			  Notes: General management includes expenditure on supervision and management of housing revenue account (HRA) property, eg policy and management, managing tenancies, rent collection and accounting. Special services include services (mainly shared) to HRA tenants, eg caretaking, cleaning, communal lighting, lifts, communal heating, laundry services, concierge schemes, ground maintenance and welfare services (excluding essential care and other special services). 
		
	
	There is no suitable measure with which to calculate the return on capital invested for this sector.

Poverty: Children

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities are allocated the resources to meet their obligations under the Child Poverty Act 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah Teather: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are committed to ending child poverty by 2020 and recognises the critical role of local authorities and other partners in achieving that aim. Part 2 of the Child Poverty Act 2010 introduced new duties for local partners to cooperate and carry out local child poverty needs assessments and develop joint child poverty strategies. In recognition of the potential costs of carrying out that work the Government have made an additional £9.5 million available this year to ensure local authorities have the resources to meet the local duties.
	Funding will be provided for the remainder of this implementation year (2010-11) to support local authorities in England who are leading the co-operation around the duties. Payments will be distributed to all 'top-tier' local authorities via the area based grant and the first payments were made in October.

Working Neighbourhoods Fund

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the closure of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund on the most deprived communities in the country; and what sources of funding will be available to support such areas in the spending review period.

Bob Neill: The Working Neighbourhoods Fund was a time-limited, three year programme scheduled to run from 2009-11. In line with our equalities duties, an equality impact assessment into the completion of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund has been carried out and will be published in due course.
	Businesses and local authorities in areas which currently receive the Fund will now be able to bid into the £1.4 billion Regional Growth Fund to kick-start private sector-led growth. The Department for Work and Pensions is also to introduce the Work Programme which will provide an integrated package of support providing personalised help for people who find themselves out of work.
	The Government are also giving communities and neighbourhoods new rights, flexibilities, powers and tools that they could use to drive forward local regeneration and growth. For example through de-ringfencing of local budgets, and introducing incentives through the New Homes Bonus to direct more money to councils that build houses. The hon. Member should be aware that as outlined in the March 2010 Budget, the last Government was planning in-year cuts to the Working Neighbourhood Fund.

Pre-School Education: Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what measures are in place to identify pupils in pre-school education with special educational needs.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 9 November 2010
	 We believe it is vital that children who have special educational needs and disabilities, including the needs of pre-school children, are identified as early as possible if they are to make the most of their education experience. There are currently provisions in place that impose legal requirements to identify, assess and make provision for these pre-school needs, for example through the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice and the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework. We want to strengthen the system so that all children are ready to engage in learning when they start formal schooling. The Tickell review is considering how young children's early learning should best be supported and the forthcoming Green Paper on Special Educational Needs and Disability will consider how we can achieve better educational outcomes and life chances for children and young people with special educational needs from the early years through to transition to adult life and employment.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children who attended  (a) maintained primary schools,  (b) Catholic maintained primary schools,  (c) maintained secondary schools and  (d) Catholic maintained secondary schools lived in (i) the 10% most deprived super output areas (SOAs), (ii) the 20% most deprived SOAs, (iii) the 30% most deprived SOAs and (iv) the 10% least deprived SOAs as measured by the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index in the school year 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: The requested information is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of pupils resident in each IDACI decile attending maintained schools and maintained Catholic schools by phase of education-2010 
			   Primary( 1)  Secondary( 1, 2) 
			  IDACI-3 decile of pupil residence  All s chools  Catholic  s chools  All  s chools  Catholic s chools 
			 0-10 % most deprived 584,313 75,460 377,687 52,831 
			 10-20% 498,615 54,953 347,214 40,363 
			 20-30 % 435,191 46,009 329,527 35,685 
			 30-40 % 398,675 39,965 316,620 31,208 
			 40-50 % 379,238 35,948 314,931 27,761 
			 50-60 % 366,354 33,154 312,916 26,264 
			 60-70 % 356,050 28,988 313,310 23,746 
			 70-80 % 357,340 28,745 318,667 24,578 
			 80-90 % 356,608 29,775 319,923 25,228 
			 90-100 % least deprived 348,800 31,941 318,017 27,603 
			 (1) Maintained schools only, includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Secondary includes academies and city technology colleges. (3) Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index 2007.  Source: School Census 2010

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will bring forward legislative proposals to incorporate the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into his Ministerial responsibilities.

Sarah Teather: holding answer 4 November 2010
	The Government are committed to the implementation of the United Nations convention on the rights of the child (UNCRC) and takes their obligations to the convention seriously.
	In March 2010, the previous Administration published an analysis setting out how legislation, policy and practice comply with the UNCRC. That analysis is being reviewed in order to assess how broader changes in legislation and policy align with the UNCRC and will decide if any further action is needed to give further effect to the convention.

World War II: Education

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether his Department has taken steps to promote  (a) knowledge of and  (b) interest in the 70(th) anniversary of the Battle of Britain in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The battle of Britain was a significant event in the second world war; and the second world war is a compulsory subject in the secondary school curriculum. Schools determine whether to include the battle of Britain as part of their studies, and the Government believe that schools should be free to decide how best to mark the 70(th) anniversary of the battle of Britain.

Atos Healthcare

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what services Atos is providing under contract to his Department; and whether he plans to renew his Department's contract with Atos in 2012.

Chris Grayling: The information is as follows.
	 Medical Services
	Following a competitive tender exercise the medical services agreement between Atos Healthcare and the Department for Work and Pensions was awarded on 15 March 2005 by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The contract went live on 1 September 2005, for a period of seven years, with options to extend for a further three and two years. On 1 November 2010 the Minister of State for Employment awarded a contract extension to 31 August 2015 to facilitate the delivery of incapacity benefit reassessment. The new disability living allowance assessment service from 2013, is not included in the extension contractual arrangements but will be awarded through a competitive tendering process.
	The scope of the medical services agreement is to provide medical advice to Department for Work and Pensions; Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs; Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and Tribunals Service to support decisions in relation to a number of benefits and pensions, including but not limited to:
	Incapacity benefits
	Employment and support allowance
	Industrial injuries disablement benefits
	Disability living allowance (to be competed in 2013)
	Attendance allowance
	Statutory sick pay/statutory maternity pay
	Child trust fund
	War pension
	Vaccine Damage Payment scheme
	Financial Assistance scheme
	Compensation Recovery scheme
	Appeals tribunal service
	 Occupational Health
	Following a competitive tender exercise the occupational health framework agreement between Atos Healthcare and the Department for Work and Pensions was awarded on 30 May 2008 by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
	The framework agreement went live on 3rd August 2008 and was for a period of three years, with an option to extend for a further two years. The Department for Work and Pensions is currently considering the option to extend.
	The scope of the occupational health framework ensures the Department has access to professional occupational health guidance, enabling obligations under the Equality Act (especially in respect of disabled workers) to be fulfilled and also to prevent or resolve instances of sickness absence. Such guidance will normally be about the applicability of the Equality Act; the effect of illness on an employee's functional capability; and measures that can be taken to reduce the effects of illness on functional capability or to rehabilitate an employee from sick leave to work. Services available via the agreement include but are not limited to:
	Attendance management support
	Pre-employment health screening
	Audiology screening
	Absence related case conferences
	Atos also provide IT services to the Department under the Stand Alone Support Services (SASA) Contract. The covers the provision of development, support, enhancement and consultancy services for mostly small scale DWP IT applications.

Departmental Contracts

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of quality management statements in assisting with contract decisions by his Department; and what assessment he has made of the effects on the prospects for small businesses winning of contracts of such statements.

Chris Grayling: DWP, as part of its selection criteria, will assess a bidder's technical or professional ability, including quality management. As part of the tender evaluation process, procurement staff must include, within the published evaluation criteria, details of any weighting system used and how the tender will be scored with reference to quality management.
	Bidders are required to describe what quality management measures they operate relevant to the bid specification. Where specific quality standards are required to meet technical contract requirements, bidders are permitted to provide evidence of equivalent or comparable processes or systems.
	Evaluation criteria will clearly state the scoring attached to quality management and the minimum acceptable standard required to deliver the contract. Provided a bidder can demonstrate their capability to deliver a contract, there are no barriers that impact on the likely success of small businesses winning contracts.
	Commercial activities in DWP are determined by EU procurement rules. One of the primary objectives of the European Union is the prevention of discrimination and restriction on the movement of goods or services. Any specification, even those not subject to the EU rules, must ensure that they comply with this objective. A member state or contracting authority, such as DWP, cannot adopt measures that are, even potentially, restrictive.
	Sustainable procurement considerations ensure that opportunities for small businesses to bid for DWP contracts are maximised. Use of electronic procurement, division of requirements into local/regional lots and supplier briefings all help to improve access.

Departmental Grants

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what grants have been awarded by his Department in 2010-11 to date; what grants he plans to award in each of the next two years; what the monetary value is of each such grant fund; and to which organisations such grants have been made;
	(2)  what the monetary value was of grants awarded by his Department in 2009-10; and how much he expects to award in grants in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

Chris Grayling: Grants made by the Department for Work and Pensions in 2009-10 and 2010-2011 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Description of grant  Paid to  2009-10  2010-11( 1)  2010-11( 2) 
			 Grants to support expenditure on Financial Inclusion Credit Unions and Community Development Financial Institutions 18.0 4.6 7.9 
			 Factory Support Grant A range of businesses to support the employment of disabled people 0.5 - 0.2 
			 Future Jobs Fund Employers to create new jobs 82.5 274.9 420.0 
			 Access to Work employers for adaptations to premises and equipment 1.1 0.8 1.7 
			 Deprived Areas Fund City Strategy Pathfinders and other partnership organisations 7.7 5.5 9.7 
			 Ageing Well Grant Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID) 0.5 0.7 1.7 
			 Active at 60 Individuals, via the Community Development Foundation - - 1.0 
			 Get Digital Project The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education via the Department for Communities and Local Government 1.0 1.9 1.9 
			 Sure Start Maternity Grants (SSMG) individuals 138.8 82.7 142.0 
			 Community Care Grants (CCG) individuals 140.7 83.2 142.0 
			 (1) To 31 October (2) Full year forecast  Notes: 1. Factory Support Grant was a small scale aspect of Workstep intended to help improve specialist disability employment services by providing funding for supported businesses to, for example, buy new machinery or modernise the services they offer. 2. Current year figures are based on actual spend, as shown in the departmental general ledger, and forecasts which are subject to change. 3. For the purposes of this answer, grants are interpreted to be one-off payments to individuals or other entities to support the objectives of the Department. Payments which are on-going in nature, for example subsidies to local authorities for housing benefit administration, or grants in aid to non-departmental public bodies have not been included. 4. Funding for the Factory Support Grant, the Future Jobs Fund, and the Deprived Areas Fund have either already ended or will end this financial year. 5. The Department is now working through the financial implications of its spending review settlement and details are not available on future funding amounts for particular grants at present.

Departmental Regulation

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what regulations sponsored by his Department have been revoked in the last six months.

Chris Grayling: The Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) Regs 2010 (S.I. 2010/ 875) were revoked by the Employment and Support Allowance (Transitional Provisions, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) (Existing Awards) (Revocation) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1906)
	The following regulations were revoked by the Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/2128):
	The Disability Discrimination (Meaning of Disability) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1455)
	The Disability Discrimination (Providers of Services) (Adjustment of Premises) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3253)
	The Disability Discrimination (Blind and Partially Sighted Persons) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/712)
	The Disability Discrimination (Employment Field) (Leasehold Premises) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/153)
	The Disability Discrimination (Educational Institutions) (Alteration of Leasehold Premises) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1070)
	The Disability Discrimination (Service Providers and Public Authorities Carrying Out Functions) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/2901)
	The Disability Discrimination (Private Clubs etc) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3258)
	The Disability Discrimination (Premises) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/887).
	The Vaccine Damage Payment (Specified Disease) Order (S.I. 2009/2516) was revoked by the Vaccine Damage Payments (Specified Disease) (Revocation and Savings) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/1988).
	The Transfer of State Pensions and Benefits Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (SR (NI) 2007/286) were revoked by the Transfer of State Pensions and Benefits (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/1825).

Employment Schemes

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) assumptions and  (b) calculations his Department made when formulating its estimate of the market value of Work Programme contracts contained in the framework agreement for the provision of employment-related support services.

Chris Grayling: Assumptions and calculations on the estimated value of Work Programme contracts and indeed other contracts which will be let from the framework, were developed from information on the value of existing welfare to work programmes. These took into account the intention to radically simplify the array of existing employment programmes and deliver coherent, integrated support more capable of dealing with complex and overlapping barriers to work. Estimates were broad in order to provide transparency to the market and to ensure that the framework would be able to meet requirements to be the principal vehicle for sourcing all employment related support services for the full life of the Framework, not just for DWP, but also for other eligible contracting authorities. Calculations also took into account the need to deliver greater value for money on future welfare to work contracts.

Housing Benefit

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the contribution by the Minister of State for Work and Pensions of 9 November 2010,  Official Report, column 154, on housing benefit, what the evidential basis was for his assessment of the change in private rents since November 2008.

Steve Webb: The source of the private rental data was the Find A Property index. This has been used by the DWP and wider Government since 2008, when CLG stopped producing their own private rental index. The Office for National Statistics does not publish up-to-date private rental data.
	Further details of the evidential base are available at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wpsc-analytical-supp.pdf

Housing Benefit

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to make exceptions to the proposed limits on payments of local housing allowance to claimants under 35 years to a shared room rate in respect of those with  (a) learning difficulties and  (b) mental health disorders.

Steve Webb: The shared room rate already has exemptions which will continue to apply for people in vulnerable situations. The exemptions include local authority and housing association tenants and those in certain supported accommodation.
	Customers who receive the middle or higher rate care component of disability living allowance and where no one gets a carer's allowance for them are also exempt. We are currently considering the detailed design of this proposal, which is not due to be implemented until April 2012.

Housing Benefit: Newham

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many working families in Newham are in receipt of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: The following table shows the number of housing benefit recipients in Newham which are non passported and in employment, August 2010.
	
		
			  Housing benefit recipients by family type and employment status in Newham, August 2010 
			   HB non passported  Of which: In employment 
			 Single no child dependents 4,550 1,690 
			 Single with child dependents 3,370 2,690 
			 Couple no child dependents 800 410 
			 Couple with child dependents 4,160 3,940 
			 Total 12,880 8,730 
			  Notes: 1. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. An extended payment is a payment that may be received for a further four weeks when they start working full-time, work more hours or earn more money. 3. Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE) is a monthly electronic scan of claimant level data direct from local authority computer systems. It replaces quarterly aggregate clerical returns. The data are available monthly from November 2008 and August 2010 is the latest available. 4. People claiming housing benefit not in receipt of a passported benefit are recorded as being in employment if their local authority has recorded employment income from either the main claimant, or partner of claimant (if applicable), in calculating the housing benefit award. 5. Passported status does not include recipients with unknown passported status.  Source: August 2010 Single Housing Benefit Extract (SHBE)

Housing Benefit: Worcestershire

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in  (a) Worcestershire and  (b) Worcester were in receipt of housing benefit of more than £400 per week in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: At July 2010, for housing benefit claims in the private rented sector our records show that there are no households in Worcestershire receiving over £400 per week.
	 Source:
	Single housing benefit extract for July 2010.

Industrial Accidents: Construction

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government has to implement the recommendations of the Rita Donaghy report entitled One death is too many: enquiry into the underlying cause of construction fatal accidents

Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to addressing the heavy toll of deaths in the construction industry which was highlighted in Baroness Donaghy's report. We will therefore progress those of the Donaghy recommendations accepted by the previous Administration which we consider are supported by the available evidence. For example, consistent with recommendation eight of the Donaghy report, the Government have actively supported the new specification for "pre-qualification" criteria in the construction industry, introduced by the British Standards Institution in October and which has the potential to radically simplify the prequalification process for small firms tendering for construction work. Where, however, we lack firm evidence for particular recommendations-for example, that directors' health and safety duties need to be further strengthened-we do not propose to take further action at this time.

Social Rented Housing: Reform

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the implications for the social rented housing market of his Department's welfare reforms.

Steve Webb: A number of discussions have been held between the Department for Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government at, both ministerial and official level. These discussions will continue as we develop our plans.

Charity Commission

Louise Ellman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the proposed changes to the operation of the Charity Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: The Charity Commission, like other Government Departments, is facing tough decisions about its future priorities following the spending review. It is undertaking a strategic review to focus on the key priorities for its future work, including seeking the views of the public and other stakeholders. In addition, the statutory review of the Charities Act 2006 which is due to take place in 2011 will consider potential changes to the legislative framework for charities and the Charity Commission.
	The Charity Commission's strategic review is currently under way and it would be premature to speculate on the outcome, but I am confident that the Charity Commission can be an effective regulator of charities in England and Wales within the resources allocated in its spending review settlement.

Third Sector: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps his Department plans to take to monitor the effectiveness of the transition fund for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises.

Nick Hurd: The Transition Fund is a significant fund that will provide much needed and immediate support for charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises to help them take on an even bigger role in this country in the medium to long term. Our key aim is to make this support available quickly, so that organisations can make the necessary changes to make the transition to a tighter funding environment and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Big Society. The Office for Civil Society has worked with the fund manager, BIG Fund, to develop arrangements for monitoring the outcomes achieved by successful applicants.
	The Transition Fund was launched on 30 November and is open for applications until 21 January 2011.

Third Sector: Finance

Lindsay Roy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the likely effects on  (a) community groups and  (b) charities of changes to their funding as a result of the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Nick Hurd: It is currently too early to evaluate the impact of the comprehensive spending review on  (a) community groups and  (b) charities. However the Cabinet Office has worked with partners in the sector, across Government and the Third Sector Research Centre to examine the exposure of the sector to public spending reductions and to mitigate potential impacts.
	The Big Society presents a great opportunity for voluntary and community groups, as we open up public services and devolve power; and the Government are therefore committed to supporting the sector through this transitional period. This includes: a £100 million Transition Fund to help organisations with shortfalls in the short-term; publishing evidence and best practice to support government at all levels to make cuts wisely and in partnership with the sector; and, setting out policy measures to open up new sources of funding and help the sector maximise new opportunities in the strategy document 'Building a Stronger Civil Society'.
	Funding for charities and community groups outside England is largely a matter for devolved Administrations.

Clostridium Difficile

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what penalties may be imposed on NHS hospital trusts which fail to meet his Department's targets for reducing the incidence of clostridium difficile.

Simon Burns: Poor performance in relation to  Clostridium difficile is covered within the NHS Standard Contracts that commissioners are expected to use for NHS funded services as a basis for setting out their expectations in terms of performance by their providers.
	It falls into the Nationally Specified Events aspect of the contract, which introduces a sliding scale of deductions of up to 2% of the annual contract value if the provider breaches the number of cases of  Clostridium difficile infections in a contract year compared with the previous year's performance. The primary care trust is required to make the year-end deduction under the provisions of the relevant clause within the contract.

Clostridium Difficile: Screening

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the proportion of patients screened for the early detection of clostridium difficile.

Simon Burns: For patients who develop diarrhoea, existing guidance, ' Clostridium difficile infection: How to deal with the problem', published by the Department and the Health Protection Agency, makes clear prompt testing is crucial. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	Expert advice is that screening of patients without symptoms for  Clostridium difficile infection is unnecessary, as current evidence indicates that it is not clinically effective.

Departmental Postal Services

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to identify those of its services that could be provided through the Post Office network.

Simon Burns: "Securing the Post Office Network in the Digital Age" published on 9 November 2010 set out the Government's policy for the Post Office and the provision of government services. The Department is currently consulting on an information revolution for health and social care. One of the key challenges will be to ensure that information can reach all sections of society. We want to hear from people as to how that can happen and very much welcome responses and ideas, including any views on how or whether making specific services available through Post Offices can play a role within that broader strategy.
	A copy of the consultation document, "Liberating the NHS: An Information Revolution" has already been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_120080

General Practitioners

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which private health providers  (a) he,  (b) Ministers in his Department and  (c) officials in his Department have met to discuss the proposed GP consortia since 6 May 2010.

Simon Burns: There have been several meetings with private health providers specifically to discuss general practitioner (GP) consortiums and issues such as commissioning support for them.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State held a meeting with a group of companies who provide commissioning support to GP consortiums. The companies represented were UnitedHealth UK, Tribal UK, Humana Europe, Aetna UK and Ingenix.
	Departmental officials have met with The Practice, Aetna UK, Tribal, Dr Foster Intelligence, PPP-Axa Healthcare, NHS Shared Business Services, UnitedHealth UK, and GE Healthcare.

General Practitioners

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 will apply in respect of the transfer of staff from primary care trusts to GP consortia.

Simon Burns: For those staff transferring from primary care trusts to general practitioner (GP) commissioning consortiums, transfers will be covered by either the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) and/or the Cabinet Office Staff Transfers in the Public Sector Statement of Practice which provides terms that are overall no less favourable than if TUPE was applied.

General Practitioners

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which reserve powers will be retained by his Department following the transfer of commissioning from primary care trusts to GP consortia;
	(2)  what powers his Department will have to take action in respect of a GP consortium becoming financially unsustainable after the implementation of his proposals for practice-based commissioning.

Simon Burns: General practitioner (GP) commissioning consortia will be authorised and held to account by the NHS Commissioning Board. The NHS Commissioning Board will have powers to intervene in the event that a consortium is failing to manage their finances effectively or deliver acceptable outcomes for their patients.
	The Secretary of State for Health will remain accountable for the health service with powers to set the legislative framework within which the NHS Commissioning Board and GP consortia will operate but will not have powers to intervene in relation to individual consortia. Further details will be set out in the Government's forthcoming response to the consultation on the White Paper "Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS".

General Practitioners

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely average amount of time per week GPs will allocate to running GP consortia as a result of his proposals to transfer commissioning from primary care trusts to GPs.

Simon Burns: The Department has not made an estimate of the likely average amount of time per week general practitioners (GPs) will allocate to running GP consortia.
	A fundamental principle of the new commissioning arrangements will be that every GP practice will be a member of a consortium and contribute to its goals. However, our proposed model will mean that not all GPs have to be actively involved in every aspect of commissioning. Their predominant focus will continue to be on providing high quality primary care to their patients. It is likely to be a smaller group of primary care practitioners who will lead the consortium and play an active role in the clinical design of local services.
	Consortia are likely to carry out a number of commissioning activities themselves. In other cases, consortia may choose to act collectively, adopting a lead commissioner arrangement. They may also choose to buy in support from external organisations, including local authorities and private and voluntary sector bodies, which might include analytical activity to profile and stratify healthcare needs, support for procurement of services, and contract monitoring.

Hereford County Hospital: Private Finance Initiative

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total running costs for Hereford county hospital  (a) was paid to the private finance initiative provider in each year from 2005-09 and  (b) is projected to be so paid in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2011.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. However, data for the proportion of total revenue expenditure by Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust in respect of its private finance initiative (PFI) scheme is set out in the following table.
	Data is not held centrally for 2010-11 or 2011-12.
	
		
			  Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust-Proportion of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI 
			   Percentage of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI 
			 2005-06 13.3 
			 2006-07 13.3 
			 2007-08 13.3 
			 2008-09 12.0 
			 2009-10(1) 10.8 
			 (1) 2009-10 accounts were compiled under International Finance Reporting Standards under which PFI costs in the audited summarisation schedules of trusts are split between capital repayments and revenue expenditure elements, which does not make a precise like for like comparison with earlier years in this table possible. However, an estimate of the PFI unitary payment for 2009-10 is held centrally by the Department as well as the audited outturn revenue expenditure figure for the Trust for this year and the percentage figure for this year is calculated using these two figures  Notes: 1. The source of the data is the audited summarisation schedules of the trust for 2005-06 to 2009-10. 2. The percentages provided represent the net revenue expenditure in respect of PFI schemes as a proportion of total revenue expenditure. 3. 2005-06 to 2008-09 figures compiled under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of MRSA.

Simon Burns: This Government are determined to do all they can to support the health and adult social care providers reduce Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). From the outset, through the Coalition Agreement, this Government made clear that they expected the national health service to adopt a zero tolerance approach to all health care associated infections (HCAIs), including MRSA.
	In the revision of the 2010-11 Operating Framework published in June, it was made clear that the NHS should continue prioritising the achievement of the MRSA objective. The successful implementation of this objective will deliver both an overall reduction nationally and, importantly, will reduce variation by moving all organisations towards the performance of the best.
	At the same time, the revision of the Operating Framework confirmed that it expected and required the NHS to implement MRSA screening of all relevant emergency admissions by the end of this year.
	[n terms of using the availability of data as a driver to supporting further reductions in MRSA, we have introduced weekly data publication of both MRSA blood stream infections and Clostridium difficile infections at hospital site level.
	We are also committed to ensuring that the NHS continue to have access to evidence based guidance in order that they can reduce the number of all HCAIs, including MRSA, through the implementation of effective infection prevention and control practices. This guidance is available on the Department of Health's "Clean, Safe Care" website.
	The Health and Social Care Act 2008 "Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the Prevention and Control of Infections and related guidance", which the Care Quality Commission use as a basis for assessing compliance with the registration requirement on cleanliness and infection control has been a driver for improvement in the hospital setting. The scope of the Code has already been extended to adult social care settings and will include primary care in due course so that we can ensure that all settings where patients receive care and treatment operate comparable infection prevention and control practices.

Muscular Dystrophy: Yorkshire and Humber

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet the Yorkshire and Humber Specialist Commissioning Group to discuss the proposed appointment of a muscular dystrophy care advisor for Hull.

Paul Burstow: The appointment of a muscular dystrophy care adviser in Hull is a matter for the local national health service. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State currently has no plans to meet the Yorkshire and the Humber Specialised Commissioning Group to discuss this matter.

Nurses: Public Expenditure

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of nurses who will leave the NHS in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of nurses to be recruited in each year of the Comprehensive Spending Review period.

Anne Milton: The information requested is not collected by the Department
	The precise numbers of national health service nurses required over the next five years will not be known until the new organisations that will underpin the new system have been designed in more detail.
	The Department of Health has consulted on how the new organisations should be designed and is analysing responses. Information on how the new organisations should be designed will be announced in due course.
	The Government have fulfilled their commitment to give the NHS a real terms increase in funding each year. The demands on the service are rising and to meet these, the NHS must make up to £20 billion of efficiency savings by 2014, by reducing bureaucracy and doing things differently. Savings will be reinvested to support the delivery of quality health care.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the proportion of the running costs of University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire  (a) which was paid to the private finance initiative provider in each year from 2005-06 to 2009-10 and  (b) will be paid to that provider in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. However, data for the proportion of total revenue expenditure by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust in respect of its private finance initiative (PFI) scheme, is set out in the following table.
	Figures for 2005-06 and 2006-07 are not comparable with later years as the PFI hospital did not fully open until part way through 2006-07.
	Data are not held centrally for 2010-11 or 2011-12.
	
		
			  University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust-proportion of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI 
			   Percentage of total revenue expenditure relating to PFI 
			 2005-06 4.3 
			 2006-07 12.7 
			 2007-08 14.6 
			 2008-09 14.6 
			 2009-10(1) 14.3 
			 (1) 2009-10 accounts were compiled under International Finance Reporting Standards under which PFI costs in the audited summarisation schedules of trusts are split between capital repayments and revenue expenditure elements, which does not make a precise like for like comparison with earlier years in this table possible. However, an estimate of the PFI unitary payment for 2009-10 is held centrally by the Department as well as the audited outturn revenue expenditure figure for the trust for this year and the percentage figure for this year is calculated using these two figures.  Notes: 1. The source of the data is the audited summarisation schedules of the trust for 2005-06 to 2009-10. 2. The percentages provided represent the net revenue expenditure in respect of PFI schemes as a proportion of total revenue expenditure. 3. 2005-06 to 2008-09 figures compiled under UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Young People: Autism

Jessica Lee: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department issues guidance on referring young people with autism who receive support from child and adolescent mental health services and do not fulfil the criteria for adult mental health teams to appropriate support from other services on reaching adulthood.

Paul Burstow: The Autism Act 2009 requires that the Government produce statutory guidance for health and social care bodies to support delivery of the autism strategy. The strategy highlights the need to improve transition planning to give people with autism the right start as adults and the guidance will include advice on the transition from child to adult services. I will launch this guidance at a meeting hosted by the National Autistic Society on 17 December 2010.
	 Answers received for publication on Wednesday 1 December 2010.

Departmental Sponsorship

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure  (a) his Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies incurred on sponsorship in each year since 1997 for which figures are available.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not account for sponsorship separately within its accounting system. It would take disproportionate time and incur a disproportionate cost to collect the information requested. The Department does not collect sponsorship information from its non-departmental public bodies and this would also take a disproportionate time to commission the request.

General Practitioners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP consortia commissioning healthcare services by tender will be able to accept tenders from other NHS organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: It is essential that general practitioner (GP) consortia have the freedom to make commissioning decisions that they judge will achieve the best outcomes within the financial resources available to them. At the same time, the economic regulator and NHS Commissioning Board will need to develop and maintain a framework that ensures transparency, fairness and patient choice. We propose that, wherever possible, services should be commissioned that enable patients to choose from any willing provider.
	The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for providing a framework to support GP consortia in commissioning services. This will include setting standards for the quality of NHS commissioning and procurement.

NHS Foundation Trusts

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that NHS trusts continue to provide equal access for all patients upon becoming foundation trusts; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: Each primary care trust (PCT) needs to ensure equality of access to national health service services through the providers it contracts with, including NHS foundation trusts (NHSFTs). Through contracting with a plurality of health service providers, PCTs should be able to secure improved access for the patients they serve.
	In the future, general practitioner consortia will commission the services that patients receive, helping them to navigate the system and ensure they get the best care.
	The general right to access NHS services will remain unchanged as NHS Trusts become authorised to operate as NHSFTs.

Strokes: Health Education

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he plans to release the remaining tranche of funding for the Act F.A.S.T. campaign;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Act F.A.S.T. campaign in raising stroke awareness.

Simon Burns: Approval has been received recently from the Cabinet Office Efficiency and Reform Group for a further wave of the Act FAST Stroke awareness campaign to go ahead. The current intention is for the television adverts to run in March 2011, supported by distribution of other materials locally.
	The evaluation we commissioned from the advertising agency which was awarded the contract for developing the stroke awareness campaign, showed that the campaign successfully achieved a rapid change in behaviour: within a year, an estimated 9,864 more people reached hospital faster, 642 of whom were saved from death or serious disability by receiving thrombolysis. The evidence demonstrated that the campaign achieved a payback of £3.16 for every £1 spent. On this basis the agency submitted an entry to the 2010 Institute of Professional Advertisers Effectiveness Awards and, in November, achieved a Gold Award.